It is the most famous and spiritually important river in India, but it’s also one of the world’s dirtiest waterways. India hopes to rid of the pollution following a $1 billion USD World Bank loan to aid in restoration efforts. What the river means to Indians cannot be underestimated. Besides being used for ritualistic baths to wash away sin, the 1560-mile river provides water for drinking, cooking and washing to one-third of the country’s population of 1.2 billion people. But years of pollution and industrial development has left the Ganges in a toxic state. This is not the first time the problem has been addressed. The previous clean-up project was said to be poorly managed and financed. The agreement with the World Bank that will see many projects take shape within various levels of government involvement has a 2020 completion date. One of the longest rivers on the planet, the Ganges flows through Bangladesh and India. It is closely tied to religion and often marks the beginning and end of many people’s lives. Children are baptised in its water and the cremated remains of the dead are disposed among its currents, both acts seen as a way of cleansing the soul. Now it’s the river’s chance to be purified.
A traveler’s journey to the Ganges
No trip to India is complete without a visit to the Ganges. Known as the Ganga to locals, it is central to the lives of many. Awake early to witness the daily pilgrimage to the river’s shoreline. Maybe, if you’re lucky, you too will receive a cleansing, or join in on a yoga retreat. Just don’t drink the water.
